NHTSA complaint: 1994 GMC SONOMA — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ABS BRAKES THAT GMC PUT ON THIS PICKUP APPEAR TO BE MISS CALIBRATED OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THE BRAKES APPEAR TO WORK FINE AT HIGH SPEEDS. IT IS A DIFFERENT STORY WHEN YOU TRY TO STOP WHEN THE SPEED DROPS. DRY PAVEMENT WITH SAND ON IT THE STOPPING DISTANCE IS EXTENDED. THE LOCAL DEALER FOUND AN SPECIAL FACTORY ORDER AND REPLACED THE BRAKE BRAIN WHICH DIDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING. THE BRAKE PADS ON THE FRONT ARE NEW AND THE REAR SHOES ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. WHEN YOU TRY TO DRIVE ON THE ANTIFREEZE COMPOUND THE STATE AND CITY APPLY TO THE STREETS MAKES IT A REAL CHALLANGE TO EVEN SLOW DOWN WITH OUT FRONT BRAKE LOCK UP. I CARRY ABOUT 400# OF WEIGHT IN THE WINTER TO FACILTATE STARTING AND STOPPING. LAST WINTER I WAS COMING DOWN A HILL VERY SLOWLY AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AND FRONT WHEEL LOCKUP AND THE BACK WHEELS DIDN'T STOP BUT TURNED SLOWLY LEAVING TREAD MARKS. THE REARS DIDN'T SLIDE AT ALL AS I SLIDE OFF THE ROAD IN THE A SNOW BANK. I TRY NOT TO DRIVE THE PICKUP IN THE WINTER BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO CAUSE A WRECK. EVERY TIME I TRY AND STOP IN THE WINTER IT IS A THRILL. MY CAR HAS ABS AND I KNOW HOW ABS SHOULD WORK. THIS PICKUP IS THE GREATEST TRUCK I HAVE EVERY OWNED EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKES. I DO UNDERSTAND THAT MY TRUCK HAS MANY MILES ON IT, BUT IT IS WELL MAINTAINED. GMC SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME OUT WITH A FIX FOR THE BRAKES BEFORE SOMEBODY IS KILLED. I REALLY DON'T WANT TO PARK THE TRUCK OR JUNK IT. THANK YOU.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation